Richard Travis enlisted as a trooper with the 7th (Southland) Squadron of the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment in Invercargill on 20 August 1914 and embarked with the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, arriving in Egypt in December 1914. He participated in the final days of the Gallipoli campaign. A knee injury led Travis to transfer to the 8th (Southland) Company, 2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment, on 27 March 1916 before his arrival in France in April 1916. In July 1916 he received special mention in brigade routine orders, and following the Somme offensive (15 September 1916) was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal "For conspicuous gallantry in action. He went out by himself and accounted for several enemy snipers who were firing at a working party. He has on many previous occasions done very fine work." (London Gazette 25 November 1916, p11563)

He was subsequently promoted as Sergeant and given command of the 2nd battalion's new sniper section. With a small group of men he undertook nocturnal scouting activities in the no man's land between the New Zealand and German trenches, mapping the German defences for the first New Zealand trench raids.

On 15 February Travis was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre "For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign" (LG 12 July 1918 p8191) and the Military Medal in May 1918 (LG 13 September 1918, p10779 Rec no 2169) following the capture of an enemy post near Hebuterne on 14 May 1918, and subsequent successful withdrawal without casualties.

Two months later during the Otago attack at Rossignol Wood Travis destroyed an impassable wire block, captured two enemy machine-guns and shot down eleven Germans but was himself killed during a heavy enemy bombardment the following day, 25 July 1918,and was buried at Couin the next day. For his act of "conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty" Travis was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1918 (LG 27 September 2928, p11431, rec no 2282).